Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 34

Willa was utterly dumbfounded. She didn't know what to do either; reasonable people didn't deal with this kind of absurdity.

If it came down to it, she'd just have to call the police and let the legal system sort it out.

Just then, an unfamiliar voice cut through the chaos.

"Excuse me, is Martha Vance here?"

Willa turned to see a middle-aged man in a sharp suit pushing his way through the crowd.

"I... that's me..." Martha looked utterly bewildered, her theatrical sobbing abruptly dying in her throat.

The man gave a curt nod and pulled a check from his briefcase.

"I am Mr. Clayton, an attorney. I have been retained by my client to handle the residency rights of this property. Here is a check for millions of dollars. The condition is that you sign this agreement and vacate the premises before sunset."

Millions of dollars?

A collective gasp ripped through the crowd, and Willa's eyes went wide with shock.

This dilapidated old house was in the middle of nowhere; the entire property wasn't even worth that much.

What kind of lunatic would spend millions just to buy the right to live here?

Furthermore, Martha didn't even hold the deed. Why was he negotiating with her?

"Mr. Clayton, my father is the legal owner of this house," Willa stepped forward to clarify.

Mr. Clayton turned to her, flashing a polite, professional smile. "Hello, Miss. I apologize, but my client's instructions are exceptionally clear. This transaction is exclusively with Martha. As for the property deed, that falls outside the scope of my current assignment."

Martha froze for a few seconds, her eyes glued to the check like a starving animal.

Suddenly, she bolted upright, lunging for the check as if a single second of hesitation would make the millions evaporate into thin air.

Mr. Clayton smoothly pulled the check back, drawing two documents from his folder. "Once this agreement is signed, the check is yours."

"I'll sign! I'll sign it right now!" Martha agreed immediately, without so much as glancing at the terms.

A sickly sweet, fawning smile stretched across her face as she stepped aside. "Mr. Clayton, please, come inside. Come in! Travis, pour Mr. Clayton a glass of water, quickly!"

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